A Local Shelter Funded By The National Institute

A Local Shelter That Receives Funding From The National Institute Of H

A local shelter that receives funding from the National Institute of Health and Mental Health is upgrading its website. Along with several upgrades to the website, the web developer/consultant makes a suggestion that the shelter add a testimonial page where local citizens can describe their positive interactions with the shelter and its services. Since the web developer/consultant want to get that page up and running first, the developer suggests using some positive ratings and responses from Angie’s List® and other similar ratings sites that already have positive stories and experiences with the shelter. The director of the shelter loves the idea of a testimonial page. She thinks it would really add to the community feel of the shelter.

However, knowing her funding source, she researches the APA Ethics Code and believes the shelter would be acting inappropriately. To discuss the matter in further detail, the director of the shelter calls you for an ethics consult. Adapted from: In words, explain the advice you would give: Describe the ethical issues involved in this situation. Discuss any other concerns about the web developer/consultant’s strategies. Explain some recommendations that you would make to the shelter.

Use two to three scholarly sources to support your claims. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

Paper For Above instruction

The ethical landscape surrounding the development of a testimonial page for a shelter funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) encompasses issues related to authenticity, honesty, and adherence to ethical standards outlined by professional codes such as the American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. The shelter’s desire to enhance community engagement through testimonials is commendable; however, using positive responses from third-party review sites like Angie’s List® raises significant ethical concerns regarding honesty, transparency, and misrepresentation.

One primary ethical issue involves the authenticity of testimonials. The proposal to incorporate select positive ratings and responses from review platforms without explicit permission or verification constitutes a form of misrepresentation. According to the APA Ethical Principles, psychologists and affiliated organizations must avoid deception and misrepresentation (APA, 2017). Presenting curated comments that are not verified or consented to can mislead the public, giving an exaggerated or false impression of the shelter’s impact. Such misrepresentation could undermine trust and compromise the integrity of the shelter’s reputation, especially given the sensitive populations it serves.

Another concern involves the potential effect on the shelter’s stakeholders. If the testimonials are not genuine or are selectively sourced from third-party sites, it might violate principles related to respect for persons and beneficence (Hyman & Woolsey, 2018). Such actions could damage relationships with funders, including the NIH, which emphasizes integrity and transparency in the use of funds and public communication. Misusing third-party ratings without proper attribution or consent can also lead to legal issues, especially relating to intellectual property rights and privacy laws.

The strategy suggested by the web developer to use existing positive reviews from other sites might appear expedient, but it raises concerns about consent and authenticity. Testimonials should stem from genuine interactions, ideally directly from clients or community members who have consented to sharing their stories publicly. Fabricated or curated testimonials, even if they reflect positive outcomes, breach ethical standards and can diminish the credibility of the shelter (Schwartz et al., 2020).

Recommendations for the shelter center on how to ethically develop a testimonial page include obtaining consent from individuals before publishing their stories or responses. The shelter could encourage current clients and community members to voluntarily share their experiences, ensuring that their privacy rights are protected. Furthermore, providing an option for anonymous testimonials can help protect individual privacy while still showcasing positive community engagement. Transparency should be maintained by clearly stating that testimonials are voluntary and may be edited for length or clarity, but not altered to misrepresent the stories’ content.

Additionally, the shelter should consider establishing a policies guideline aligned with ethical standards for gathering and publishing testimonials. This includes training staff to understand consent procedures and ensuring that all testimonials are authentic and representative of actual experiences. Public acknowledgment of the source of testimonials—whether from the shelter’s own outreach or authorized third-party reviews—can also be ethically more sound. If the shelter wishes to incorporate external reviews, it should seek explicit permission and appropriately attribute the reviews, rather than copying and pasting responses from other platforms.

In summary, while the desire to create an engaging and community-oriented testimonial page is positive, it must be balanced with adherence to ethical guidelines emphasizing honesty, transparency, and respect for individuals’ rights. By involving genuine community voices, obtaining proper consent, and being transparent about the sources of testimonials, the shelter can uphold its integrity both ethically and publicly. These practices not only align with professional standards but also foster trust within the community, which is vital for a nonprofit organization dependent on public goodwill and funding.

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
  • Hyman, P., & Woolsey, R. (2018). Ethical considerations in nonprofit organizations: Transparency and stakeholder trust. Journal of Nonprofit Management, 15(2), 101-115.
  • Schwartz, B., Weiss, R., & Li, B. (2020). Authenticity in nonprofit storytelling: Ethical implications and best practices. Journal of Ethics and Social Responsibility, 11(3), 45-60.
  • Gans, J. S. (2018). Ethical online reviews: Uses and misuses. Journal of Consumer Ethics, 1(1), 23-34.
  • Reamer, F. G. (2013). Social work VALUES, ETHICS, AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. Social Work Values and Ethics. Columbia University Press.
  • Lovell, A. (2019). Ethical marketing and communication: The importance of authenticity. Public Relations Journal, 13(2), 101-119.
  • Fisher, C. B. (2019). Decoding the code: Ethical challenges in research and practice. American Journal of Bioethics, 19(10), 15-21.
  • Levy, S. (2021). Transparency and trust in nonprofit communications. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 33(4), 325-339.
  • Miller, R. L., & Herron, A. (2016). Ethical Challenges and Strategies in Social Service Settings. Social Work, 61(3), 237-246.
  • Thompson, L. (2020). Building community trust: Ethical considerations in social service organizations. Community Development Journal, 55(2), 245-259.

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